Guyana stands a fifty percent chance of being hit by a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic Ocean within the next 48 hours, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said last evening on its website.
Chief Hydromet Officer Bhaleka Seulall says that her office is monitoring a potent tropical wave, which has a thirty percent chance of turning into a cyclone. She said that most models are projecting that as the tropical wave moves towards Guyana it will weaken. Consequently, there may be thunder, lightning and periods of heavy rainfall during the next 36 to 48 hours, Seulall said.
The wave, she said, is being closely monitored by the local hydromet office.
Yesterday afternoon, the NOAA predicted there is a 30 to 50 percent chance that the tropical wave could turn into a cyclone which could hit Guyana. By 8pm, the probability had risen to 50 percent. According to the website, “a vigorous tropical wave located over the tropical Atlantic about 725 miles East-Southeast of the Windward Islands is producing a large area of showers and thunderstorms” It said that “the system continues to show signs of organization and environmental conditionals appear to be favourable for gradual development of this disturbance during the next couple of days There is a medium chance, 50 percent chance of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves westward or west-northwestward at 15 to 20 MPH.” The website said that “regardless of development, this system is expected to bring…heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds to the Windward Islands, Venezuela and northern portions of Guyana during the next couple of days.”
An expert told Stabroek News last evening that the warning should not be taken lightly and that precautions should be taken since the winds are likely to be very strong.
